Intellijel Swells: Modulation, Swell Generator and Envelope Follower Tricks Unveiled

At the heart of Swells lies the Swell Generator, described as an envelope follower that can be triggered from a variety of sources and shaped with precision. This internal modulation source is normalled to all eight slider parameters, as well as input and mix, giving users immediate access to dynamic modulation across the module. The Swell Generator even offers a dedicated CV output, allowing its modulation to be routed elsewhere in the system for broader creative applications.

Control over the Swell Generator is provided via Rise, Fall, Threshold, Source Selector, and the Swell button. Assigning modulation is straightforward—simply move a parameter’s control past centre to assign positive or negative modulation, with LED feedback indicating the assignment. The video demonstrates this by assigning Swell to the Size parameter, showing how the modulation depth and direction are visually represented and immediately audible.

The Swell Generator can be triggered in several ways: by the input signal, via sidechain, from the reverb output, or manually using the Swell button. There’s also the option to use an external trigger input, which can be assigned through the Alt page. This flexibility means Swells can respond to a wide range of patching scenarios, from audio-reactive envelopes to manual or sequenced modulation events.

Swells offers five distinct envelope follower modes, each shaping the modulation response in a unique way. These modes are accessed via the Alt page and selected with the Mode button, with LED colour changes providing clear visual feedback. The default mode, Follow, acts as a classic envelope follower, dynamically tracking the amplitude of the source material above the threshold—ideal for expressive, audio-reactive modulation.

Gated mode treats any signal above the threshold as full scale, resulting in consistent modulation regardless of input dynamics. This is particularly useful when you want modulation to be less sensitive to level variations. One Shot mode triggers a full-length envelope each time the signal crosses the threshold, ensuring even short sounds generate a complete modulation cycle—perfect for percussive or transient-rich material.

Delayed One Shot introduces a twist by triggering the envelope when the signal drops below the threshold, creating delayed modulation effects. Finally, Looped mode provides a continuously looping envelope, retriggered by threshold crossings, which is handy for generating ongoing modulation that still responds to input activity. The video walks through each mode with practical audio examples, making their sonic impact immediately clear.

The video demonstrates how Swells accommodates both internal modulation from its Swell Generator and external CV sources. Each slider parameter features a dedicated CV input, and patching into these breaks the internal normalled connection, allowing for direct external control. Attenuverters set the modulation depth, and a 5V CV sweeps the full range of a parameter, with higher voltages tamed via the attenuverter.

Advanced assign mode takes things further, enabling simultaneous modulation from both Swell and external CV on the same parameter. This is accessed by holding ALT and Swell together, with the interface providing clear feedback on modulation amounts. Modulation values are stored per page—standard or Alt—so users can set independent depths for Swell and external CV, opening up intricate modulation layering for complex patches.